Concert Photos Take 1!

[NetG]

I have taken somewhere around 10,000 concert photos in the last year and a half with my point and shoot. But last night was the first time trying to get shots of someone on stage since getting my dSLR! I have to practice getting the focus where I want and how to use depth of field to my advantage.

A Calexico trumpet player, a couple mariachi, and the horn section from Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta:


Jacob Valenzuela of Calexico and Brian Lopez of Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta. The stage was very high for a girl of 5'1", and there were a lot of microphones in the way of shots!


Salvador Duran is one of the elder statesman of the Tucson music scene:


Party!


This is my big love in photography - I try to capture in photos what the music makes me feel. Last night was a big awards celebration for local Tucson musicians, and Calexico won the Hall of Fame award. The local Calexico members performed with members of a local mariachi band and the new mambo band Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta playing with them. I only used an 85mm f/1.8 lens, generally around 1/100 shutter because of the number of people on stage and fast movements, and ISO 3200. They seemed to be trying to create and candlelight feel onstage with the lighting. I believe in letting the photos reflect the color of the light being shone on the musicians for the most part. At times the light was red, at times blue, and at times white like a candle. It was fairly interesting, and very low light for what you'd normally see in a larger venue.

[kpy]

not bad, not bad at all
and for 3200 iso too
what brand / model camera did u say?

[kpy]

out of those shots, for me, the one of salvador is easily the best - nice one !

nicely and cleanly framed and balanced, focused, and pretty moody colour and light around his hair/head, and his own focus/involvement on what his is doing ...

lovely shot

[bgg]

I agree, nice shots and 3200, good job!

[HowardG]

Your photos are fine. Keep doing what you are doing. Forget worrying about depth of field. In the low light you will not be able to do much except up the ISO rating to 1600 but you have have to contend with grain

[plangereis]

The shot with Salvador is my favorite. I think you did well considering the lighting and the ISO you were working with.

[mikez53]

Very nice set and I love the natural colors. Great job with your new camera.

[NetG]

Originally Posted by kpy

what brand / model camera did u say?

Sorry I forgot to mention it - Canon T1i
I like the picture of Salvador best, too! I always have a lot of luck getting pictures of him - he has so much character, and it's as if you can see his life on his face.

Originally Posted by HowardG

Your photos are fine. Keep doing what you are doing. Forget worrying about depth of field. In the low light you will not be able to do much except up the ISO rating to 1600 but you have have to contend with grain

Oh, for me the concern with depth of field is just getting the right point in focus. Not really a problem with a point and shoot, so I'm getting used to that, and have to learn how to work with it instead of having half of my photos have my focal point end up blurry.

Thanks everyone! I took more photos last night, and have more concerts coming up this weekend.